Garmin, your users deserve a response

Dear Garmin,

Your users have spoken with a unified voice, I.

That's not quite true is it?
The real truth is that a few of Garmins users have spoken with a unified voice, while the majority of the users haven't said a word.
Personally I totally agree that Bing is inferior to Google in GC, but to me it's definitely not the end of the world. Not even close.
For all I know Garmin might have a strategic longterm intention with selecting Bing instead of Google, that we, the users can, not see now, but maybe later.......

Stig

Stig,

I see your point,and agree that not a majority of users have responded. However, I'd like to point out two things: 1) I have yet to see someone say that the move to Bing is beneficial over Google, and 2) I believe there have been more negative responses on this issue in the GC forum than on any other issue. It's a loss of functionality for many users (all if you consider that the terrain view is now gone).

My intent is to point out if Garmin acknowledges the postings in a response and whether they intend to make any changes in the future, it will allow users to make an informed decision as whether to stay with Garmin or move to another provider.

I'm a huge Garmin fan, my foreunner has helped me tremendously, but if there's not a move back to Google, or at least giving users a choice, I'm moving on. If there's no response from Garmin within a reasonable time, I'm moving on regardless.

Best,
Chris

Don't hold your breath.....

@Liver - I'm not, but if you don't ask, it definitely won't happen. :)

That's not quite true is it?
The real truth is that a few of Garmins users have spoken with a unified voice, while the majority of the users haven't said a word.
Personally I totally agree that Bing is inferior to Google in GC, but to me it's definitely not the end of the world. Not even close.
For all I know Garmin might have a strategic longterm intention with selecting Bing instead of Google, that we, the users can, not see now, but maybe later.......

Stig

Not everyone says a word because what has been said in the thread (the larger one) that its all been said over and over.

Over 5000 views at least of the combined threads, so there is interest.

Alot of people dont even know garmin forums exist either so its best to look over all forums.

I have yet to see a "hooray, we have Bing" comment:rolleyes:

I feel Garmin owes it's customers an answer on why it made the move to BING maps.

I for one have spent several hundred dollars on my 310xt and my GF's edge 500. I was looking at picking up a edge 800 but now that decision is limbo and I might just see how I can make google's my tracks work for me in lieu of spending anymore of my hard earned money with garmin.

I feel Garmin owes it's customers an answer on why it made the move to BING maps.

And they have, in their own blog:
I quote:
"Garmin has a rich history of collaborating with many industry leaders, and using Bing maps with Garmin Connect provided an opportunity to build upon our existing relationship with Microsoft.Garmin Connect users will continue to enjoy all of the familiar mapping features and functions that bring more than 40 million saved activities to life, and working with Bing will lead to more exciting developments in the future. "

I do agree with all the angry voices that it is definitely not an obvious improvement (as I also said in my previous post). And I'm likewise not very sure the last statement will be true either.
Maybe it's simply a result of the fact that "money rules"?

But that is not going to stop me from using my 310 with great pleasure, and my other Garmin devices, and upload my tracks to GC (and GTC, Sport Tracks, Strava, runSaturday or whatever)

Stig

Stig.

Their answer is a non-answer. They need to explain why they are removing functionality that many of us use on a daily basis. I'm lucky that I live in the US and while the BING maps are bad here at least I have some thing to look at. What about all the international users that just got screwed, with no answer from Garmin about how they will rectify the situation for those users.

That's not quite true is it?
The real truth is that a few of Garmins users have spoken with a unified voice, while the majority of the users haven't said a word.
Personally I totally agree that Bing is inferior to Google in GC, but to me it's definitely not the end of the world. Not even close.
For all I know Garmin might have a strategic longterm intention with selecting Bing instead of Google, that we, the users can, not see now, but maybe later.......

Stig

Another thing to mention is that this came down in the early week....at this time of the year alot of people are riding on the weekends.

Wait until they see what kind of treat they get once they download it.